College Planning for Adults

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The United States government sets aside millions of dollars each year to help college students, who are U.S. citizens or who are in this country legally, pay for their education.

If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen then all you have to do to become eligible for federal financial aid is to apply for it.

Filling out the FAFSA also has an additional bonus. Your college can use the information you provide to help determine if you are eligible for any of the college’s grants, scholarships, or work study programs.

Work study programs allow students to work on campus in various academic departments, the library, etc. Work study is not always the best option for the nontraditional adult student because it often pays minimum wage.

The application process is completely FREE. You can apply for it online at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov or you can get a paper copy from the public library, the college, or by calling 1-800-4-FED AID.

Avoid websites that charge you money for filling out the FAFSA.

Three weeks or so after you have submitted the FAFSA, electronically or by mail, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you made mistakes on the FAFSA, you can make the corrections on the SAR. Please note, if you filled out the FAFSA online, your corrections can be made online.

TIPS

1. Get several copies of the FAFSA form if you’re going to fill out the paper version. You’ll need the extra copies to practice with. If you’re working online – you can just press “Save” each time you change the form.

2. Read the Eligibility section before you begin. If you’ve defaulted on a previous student loan or had a drug conviction – you might not be eligible to apply.

3. Read the instructions and look through each page of the FAFSA before you begin.

4. Gather all the necessary documents such as your Social Security card and your Tax Forms from the previous year.

5. After you filled out the form, have someone else look it over for mistakes. If you’re filling out the form online – do not hit “Submit” until you are absolutely sure that all of the information is correct.

6. If you submit the form online – you will need a PIN number. You will have to apply for it through the website. The federal government will then mail your PIN Number to you. You will not receive it through e-mail. Put your PIN Number in safe place. This is the same PIN Number you will use each time you log in to the website.

7. Keep a copy of the FAFSA. If you’re filling out the form online – you can print a copy of the form for your files.

If you are incarcerated or if you are an ex-offender:

The good news is that the most recent FAFSA (which is necessary to get a Pell grant) changed the wording so that many more people don’t have to give information about their criminal history. The question is: Have you ever been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study)?

You must answer this question.

Answer No if:

  • You have never had a conviction for possessing or selling illegal drugs
  • The conviction was not a state or federal offense
  • The conviction was before you were 18 years old and you were not tried as an
    adult
  • The conviction was removed from your record
  • The offense that led to your conviction did not happen while you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study)

If you answer Yes, use the drug conviction worksheet to find out about your eligibility. Even if you have past convictions, you still may be eligible for student aid. You can find the drug conviction worksheet on the FAFSA website, or click here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before013.htm. It is available in English and Spanish. Even if you are not eligible for federal student aid, complete and submit your FAFSA You may be eligible for state or school financial aid, and some schools use the FAFSA information when they decide about that.

For more information and help answering this question, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center 1-800-433-3243.

Read the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) section on the FAFSA website for more information: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/faq003.htm

Also visit Student Aid on the Web On the left side, click Tools and Resources. On the next page, move down and click on Publications. On the next page, Click Funding Your Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Student Aid. Choose English or Spanish. http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html

If you are from another country:

To qualify for FAFSA, you need to have a certain status:

  • You are a permanent resident
  • You have an I-94
  • You are a refugee

There are also other statuses that are acceptable. For more information:

Even if you are not eligible for federal student aid, complete and submit your FAFSA, you may be eligible for state or school financial aid, and some schools use the FAFSA information when they decide about that.

For more information and help with the FAFSA application, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center 1-800-433-3243.

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